An aerial ball is sent up to Liverpool’s forwards, who hold it up and lay it off to James Milner.

Liverpool’s forwards hold up and lay off the ball

Milner sends it out to Trent Alexander-Arnold, who gears up for a cross, while Liverpool’s forward trio line up along the Watford defensive line and are joined by Georginio Wijnaldum.

Alexander-Arnold prepares for a cross as Liverpool have four attackers against three Watford defenders due to Adam Masina’s wide positioning

This immediately poses a problem for Watford as their backline is outnumbered. Left-back Adam Masina positions himself to cover the flanks, although this is unnecessary as Roberto Pereyra and Abdoulaye Doucoure are covering Milner and Alexander-Arnold and no one is attempting to run through the inside channel.

Masina’s wide positioning forces Craig Cathcart across to stop Mohamed Salah however Sadio Mane makes a run through the middle. Cathcart is understandably reluctant to leave Salah but also doesn’t want to let Mane go free and ends up caught between the two, while Adrian Mariappa and Daryl Janmaat are busy with Wijnaldum and Divock Origi respectively.

Mane makes a run between Watford’s centre-backs as Cathcart and Mariappa are busy with Salah and Wijnaldum

Alexander-Arnold exploits this perfectly, landing his cross on the head of Mane to finish unopposed between the centre-backs. Cathcart has recognised the danger but the cross loops over his head, while Mariappa had been preoccupied with Wijnaldum and couldn’t get back in time to challenge Mane.